17-12-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Transport Minister Anthony Loke has vigorously defended his stance against accusations of dishonesty from former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad regarding the controversial Batu Puteh sovereignty case, maintaining that proper Cabinet procedures were not followed in 2018.
Speaking at the Malaysia-China Summit on Tuesday, Loke urged both Dr Mahathir and the public to thoroughly examine the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report, which he says provides comprehensive documentation of the events surrounding the territorial dispute.
“The RCI highlighted critical shortcomings in the decision-making process,” Loke explained. “For matters concerning national sovereignty, a more rigorous approach should have been implemented.”
The Transport Minister stood by earlier assertions that Dr Mahathir had merely notified the Cabinet of his decision rather than facilitating a proper consultation. “As newly appointed ministers at the time, many of us were unfamiliar with standard Cabinet protocols. We later learned that proper Cabinet decisions require thorough documentation and input from all relevant ministries and agencies—a process that was notably absent in this instance,” Loke revealed.
The controversy intensified following a joint statement issued on 12 December by Loke, former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, and former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. They claimed Dr Mahathir had unilaterally decided to withdraw Malaysia’s appeal in the Batu Puteh case on 21 May 2018, merely informing the Cabinet two days later.
Dr Mahathir subsequently accused the trio of fabricating information about the withdrawal decision, expressing “shame” at having appointed them to his Cabinet. He cited leaked Cabinet meeting minutes as evidence contradicting their claims.
The recently tabled RCI report, though heavily redacted, recommends criminal investigations under various sections of the Penal Code related to cheating, which allegedly resulted in Malaysia’s loss of Batu Puteh.
The territorial dispute dates back to 2008 when the International Court of Justice ruled that Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore, while awarding Middle Rocks to Malaysia. The ownership of South Ledge was left to be determined through territorial water delimitation.
The establishment of the RCI, consented to by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, earlier this year, marks the latest development in this ongoing sovereignty dispute that has significant implications for Malaysia’s territorial integrity and diplomatic relations with Singapore.
